This document outlines a project with key goals of connecting residents in a corridor to workforce resources and better aligning workforce and economic development. The project focuses on reaching low-income, long-term unemployed residents in five communities, as well as transportation, manufacturing and health services employers. It utilized community learning sessions, online job resources, and certifications to help over 1,400 residents of color and 87% unaware of resources improve their employability and obtain employment. While 56 employers were engaged, greater alignment is still needed between workforce and economic development systems and employers in the corridor.

2. Key goals:
! To connect Corridor
residents and employers
to existing workforce
resources
! To better align workforce
and economic development
in Corridor

3. ! Residents
◦ Low-income, long-term unemployed, not in training
programs
◦ High %: unemployment, ELL,
HHds of color, low-income,
no HS Diploma/GED
◦ 5 Corridor communities
! Employers
◦ High starting wages, low skill entry, career-laddering,
corridor presence, current openings, future job
projections
◦ Transportation/logistics, manufacturing, health services

4. ! Focus on disconnected residents
! Peer outreach: trusted community members
! Outreach to employers
! Services in neighborhoods
! Existing workforce resources / tools
! Empowering people: “teach to fish”
! Align Workforce/Economic Development

5. Project Team:
• Local cities (PED
staff)
• Local counties
(WF,
CED, Policy staff)
• State government
(WF/ED staff)
• Regional MPO
(grant authority)
• Community
advocate
agencies
• Local Foundations
Community (60):
• community leaders
• nonprofit orgs
• faith-based orgs
• neighborhood
associations
• Focus group Facilitator from
community

6. ! Ramsey County, Minneapolis WSAs
! 11 Corridor workforce providers – one staff
! Mn State DEED, Workforce Centers
! Job Connect electronic resource
! Reading Companion (ELL-focus)
! NCRC (National Career Readiness Certificate)
! Libraries
! Peers in “Community Learning Sessions”
! ABE (Adult Basic Ed/GED) and ELL resources

7. Low
employability
High
employability
Stable:
Housing,
child
care,
transportation,
mental
health,
physical
health
ELL,
ABE
classes
to
improve:
math,
reading,
language;
Use
KeyTrain
/
Reading
Companion
to
study
HS
diploma
/
GED
completed;
knows
what
employers
expect
(“soft
skills”,
being
on
time,
teamwork,
etc.)
Can
articulate
own
skills;
knows
what
jobs
are
good
Pit;
has
NCRC
certiPicate
Resume
current;
email
access;
Computer
skills;
does
online
applications;
has
references;
uses
Job
Connect
Knowledge
of
interviewing;
application
etiquette,
appropriate
business
attire
Work
experience;
training
/
educ.
certiPicates;
recommendation
letters;
good
communication
skills;
has
and
uses
strong
network;

9. ! 1,400+ long-term unemployed, low-income
residents
! 83% communities of color
! 87% unaware of workforce resources
◦ 679 participated in 62 “Community Learning
Sessions”
◦ 299 registered on
Job Connect website
◦ 128 referred to providers
◦ 70 NCRC certificates
◦ 65 employed
◦ 47 attended training

10. ! 56 Corridor employers (small to mid-size)
◦ Majority unaware of
workforce resources
◦ 7 ultimately used NCRC
in hiring
◦ 8 reported hiring
Corridor residents

11. ! Residents
! Connectors
! Employers
! Community
! Project Team
! Workforce
Providers

12. ! LRT under construction – not functioning
! Lack awareness of workforce resources
! Employers anticipated little benefit from LRT
! Residents wanted corridor jobs – LRT not
perceived to improve access to jobs
! Geography fostered relationship-building
! Workforce/employer connections disjointed

13. ! Funders expressed interest in findings/
learning; wants sustainability
! Additional funding for two+ years
! Local workforce dedicated funding
! Local provider took lead role
! Greater focus on training, supports
! Greater outreach involvement of employers
! Greater focus on alignment of systems